French Film Series: Le Hérisson

Nimbly adapted from Muriel Barbery's 2006 international best seller The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Mona Achache's first film follows two parallel storylines: one featuring a morbid little girl, the other a mysterious middle-aged widow janitor. Scrawny, bespectacled, and highly intelligent 11-year-old Paloma is disgusted by the futility of her bourgeois existence and plans to kill herself on her next birthday. Mme Michel prefers to keep secrets to herself, which will be revealed through deep bonds not only with the new resident Mr. Ozu but also Paloma.